Editing Sheffield, Alabama

{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Sheffield, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = "Center of the Shoals", "Sheffvegas", "Sheffghanistan"
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Sheffield Downtown Commercial Historic District 2012-09-30 12-35-17.jpg
|imagesize                = 275px
|image_caption            = Sheffield Downtown Commercial Historic District
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Colbert County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sheffield Highlighted 0169648.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Sheffield, Alabama
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Colbert County, Alabama|Colbert]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=Sheffield City Council|url=https://sheffieldalabama.net/departments/city-council/|publisher=City of Sheffield, Alabama|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Steve Stanley
|leader_title1            = [[Councillor|Councilmembers]]
|leader_name1             = Gary Highfield<br>Barbara Cook<br>Fred Mason<br>Casheta Rutland<br>Randa Hovater
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1885
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = February 17, 1885<ref>{{cite web|title=Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates |url=https://almonline.org/Assets/Files/AboutUs/Alabama_Municipalities_Incorporation_Dates.pdf |publisher=Alabama League of Municipalities |date=January 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225202142/https://almonline.org/Assets/Files/AboutUs/Alabama_Municipalities_Incorporation_Dates.pdf |access-date=January 8, 2025|archive-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
|founder                  = [[Alfred Huger Moses]]
|named_for                = [[Sheffield]], [[Yorkshire]], [[England]]
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 23, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 18.410
|area_land_km2            = 18.102
|area_water_km2           = 0.308
|area_total_sq_mi         = 7.108
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.989
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.119
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 9307
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 9403
|population_density_km2   = 514.20
|population_density_sq_mi = 1331.77
|population_urban         = 78925
|population_metro         = 155175
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 148
|elevation_ft             = 486
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|45|25.27|N|87|41|51.73|W|region:US-AL_type:city|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 35660
|area_code                = [[Area codes 256 and 938|256 and 938]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-69648
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2405452<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405452}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 9.5%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/alabama/cities/sheffield.html|title=Sheffield (AL) sales tax rate|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://sheffieldalabama.net/|sheffieldalabama.net}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Sheffield''' is a city in [[Colbert County, Alabama|Colbert County]], Alabama, United States, and is included in the [[Florence–Muscle Shoals metropolitan area|Florence-Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Area]]. The population was 9,403 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Sheffield_city,_Alabama?g=160XX00US0169648 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref> and was estimated to be 9,307 in 2023.<ref name="USCensusEst2023"/> Sheffield is the birthplace of "country-soul pioneer" and songwriter [[Arthur Alexander]], French horn player [[Willie Ruff]], notable [[Lawyer|attorney]], actor, former senator and presidential contender [[Fred Thompson]], Watergate committee U.S. Senator [[Howell Heflin]] and U.S. Senator [[Mitch McConnell]], whose father was working in nearby [[Athens, Alabama|Athens]] when he was born. It sometimes is referred to as "the City of Senators" due to the births of Heflin, McConnell and Thompson within its borders. [[Colonel Sanders|Col. Harland Sanders]] worked for Southern Railway in Sheffield in 1907. It is also home to the [[Muscle Shoals Sound Studio]] where many popular 20th century musicians recorded their work, including Alexander and Ruff. It is the site of historic Helen Keller Hospital, formerly known as Colbert County Hospital, originally constructed in 1921. It was changed to [[Helen Keller]] Hospital in 1979, and Keller's birthplace Ivy Green is located less than one mile southwest of the hospital in adjacent [[Tuscumbia, Alabama|Tuscumbia]].

==Geography==
Sheffield is located in eastern Colbert County at {{coord|34|45|25.27|N|87|41|51.73|W|type:city}} (34.7570187, -87.6977027).<ref name=gnis/> on the south bank of the [[Tennessee River]]. Sheffield is bordered to the south by the city of Tuscumbia, to the southeast by [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama|Muscle Shoals]], and to the north, across the river, by [[Florence, Alabama|Florence]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.108|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|6.989|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.119|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (1.39%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

Sheffield was one of the Colbert County sites of embarkation by riverboat and barge on the Tennessee River during the forced relocation of Eastern and Southern United States Indian tribes, known as the [[Trail of Tears]]. The embarkation site was at what is now the Spring Creek boat launch and park area.

Sheffield is also home to the oldest bridge site in the state of Alabama.  What is today known as the "Old Railroad Bridge," is actually a bridge site that dates back to the early 1800s.<ref>https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/old-railroad-bridge '''Old Railroad Bridge'''</ref>

==Economy==
In 1940, the [[Reynolds Metals Company]] set up its first [[aluminum]] [[smelting]] facility in Sheffield, paving the way for wartime expansion of aircraft production in the country.

Sheffield was the home of [[Muscle Shoals Sound Studios]] at [[3614 Jackson Highway]] and later at 1000 Alabama Avenue.  [[Cher]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[The Osmonds]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Bob Seger]], [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]], [[Simon & Garfunkel]], [[The Staple Singers]] and many others recorded the biggest hits of their careers in this small studio, that remains well known and respected throughout the [[music industry]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2731
|1900= 3333
|1910= 4865
|1920= 6682
|1930= 6221
|1940= 7933
|1950= 10767
|1960= 13491
|1970= 13115
|1980= 11903
|1990= 10380
|2000= 9652
|2010= 9039
|2020= 9403
|estyear=2023
|estimate=9307
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=January 8, 2025|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of the 2023 [[American Community Survey]], there are 4,386 estimated households in Sheffield with an average of 2.12 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $42,097. Approximately 25.7% of the city's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Sheffield has an estimated 54.5% employment rate, with 15.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 87.7% holding a high school diploma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Sheffield city, Alabama|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sheffieldcityalabama/PST045223|access-date=January 8, 2025|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (98.4%), Spanish (1.6%), Indo-European (0.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.0%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the city was 40.1 years.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Sheffield, Alabama – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Sheffield city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US0169648|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>
! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sheffield city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0169648&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>
! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sheffield city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0169648&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 6,798
| 6,220
| style='background: #ffffe6; |6,165
| 70.43%
| 68.81%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |65.56%
|-
| [[African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 2,517
| 2,409
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2,350
| 26.08%
| 26.65%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |24.99%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 35
| 24
| style='background: #ffffe6; |20
| 0.36%
| 0.27%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 27
| 31
| style='background: #ffffe6; |54
| 0.28%
| 0.34%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.57%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 4
| 1
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2
| 0.04%
| 0.01%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 5
| 3
| style='background: #ffffe6; |33
| 0.05%
| 0.03%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 121
| 140
| style='background: #ffffe6; |431
| 1.25%
| 1.55%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |4.58%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 145
| 211
| style='background: #ffffe6; |348
| 1.50%
| 2.33%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |3.70%
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''9,652'''
| '''9,039'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''9,403'''
| '''100.00%'''
| '''100.00%'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 9,403 people, 4,255 households, and 2,423 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sheffield%20city,%20Alabama%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1352.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,977 housing units at an average density of {{convert|715.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 66.47% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 25.12% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.57% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.94% from some other races and 5.62% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 3.70% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Sheffield city, Alabama |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/sheffield-city-alabama/160-01769648/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 3.7% were under 5 years of age, and 21.6% were 65 and older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] there were 9,039 people, 4,055 households, and 2,421 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1419.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of {{convert|733.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 69.68% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 26.84% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.28% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.34% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.10% from some other races and 1.70% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 2.33% of the population.

Of the 4,055 households 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 36.1% of households were one person and 15.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% 65 or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median household income was $34,910 and the median family income was $42,718. Males had a median income of $39,692 versus $25,464 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,619. About 16.4% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 9,652 people, 4,243 households, and 2,711 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1471.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,760 housing units at an average density of {{convert|725.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 71.21% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 26.21% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.28% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.57% from some other races and 1.30% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 1.50% of the population.

Of the 4,243 households 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.5% of households were one person and 15.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median household income was $26,673 and the median family income was $33,877. Males had a median income of $30,378 versus $18,033 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,022. About 16.5% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
There is no fixed-route transit service in Sheffield. However, the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments operates a [[dial-a-ride]] transit service known as NACOLG Transit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nacolg.org/public-transit|title=NACOLG Transit|access-date=November 10, 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Arthur Alexander]], [[country music]] songwriter and [[soul music|soul]] singer
* [[Gary Baker (songwriter)|Gary Baker]], songwriter and famous for "I Swear"
* [[Bo Carter]], College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame member
* [[Ben Cunningham (activist)|Ben Cunningham]], founder of the political [[advocacy group]] [[Tennessee Tax Revolt]]
* [[Douglas A. Foster]], [[historian]] and [[theologian]]
* [[Emerson Foote]], advertising executive, co-founder of [[Foote, Cone & Belding]], former chairman of [[McCann-Erickson]]
* [[Donna Godchaux]], musician
* [[Wayne Greenhaw]], writer and journalist
* [[Howell Heflin]], [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Alabama]]
* [[David Hood]], musician
* [[Rick James (baseball)|Rick James]], former [[pitcher]] for the [[Chicago Cubs]]
* [[Jimmy Johnson (session guitarist)|Jimmy Johnson]], [[guitarist]] for the [[Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section]]
* [[John W. Keys]], director of the [[United States Bureau of Reclamation]] from 2001 to 2006
* [[Adam Lazzara]], lead singer for [[Taking Back Sunday]]
* [[Mitch McConnell]], [[Senate Minority Leader]] (2007-2015; 2021-), [[Senate Majority Leader]] (2015-2021), [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Kentucky]] (1985-)
* [[Alfred Huger Moses]], founder and first mayor<ref name=JWR>{{Cite web|last=Feldberg|first=Michael|title=Alfred Huger Moses, industrial visionary|publisher=[[Jewish World Review]]|url=http://www.jewishworldreview.com/jewish/moses.asp|access-date=December 22, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Anthony Piccione]], [[poet]]
* [[Willie Ruff]], [[French horn]] and [[double bass]] player
* [[Roger Dale Stafford]], serial killer
* [[Bill Stough]], prelate who served as the eighth Episcopal Church [[Episcopal Diocese of Alabama|Bishop of Alabama]]
* [[Fred Thompson]], [[actor]] and [[United States Senate|former U.S. senator]] from [[Tennessee]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=t000457|title=THOMPSON, Fred Dalton, (1942-)|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=November 10, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Kerry Underwood]], member of the [[Alabama House of Representatives]]
* [[William Willis (artist)|William Willis]], [[abstract art]] painter

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://sheffieldalabama.net/ City of Sheffield – official website]
* [https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/old-railroad-bridge The Old Railroad Bridge (Historical Site)]

{{Colbert County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Sheffield, Alabama| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Colbert County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Florence–Muscle Shoals metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Alabama populated places on the Tennessee River]]